The Storied Saga of Smokey Bear

A badly burned cub, rescued from a New Mexico fire, became a symbol of safety and prevention and one of the country’s most endearing advertising images.

Smokey Bear at the 2005 National Scout Jamboree. Public Domain

Smokey Bear, the famous mascot of wildfire prevention, endures more than 80 years after its creation. As recognizable as any other entity in advertising, the bulky, furry protector of our forests comes with a distinct past. Its multifaceted tale is not just about a displaced cub and a Southwest fire, but the interwoven lives of a popular German-born illustrator, a Kansas-born U.S. Forest Service employee and artist, and a New York City fire chief of awe-inspiring indomitability.

Fire Engulfs New Mexico Mountains

Tahoe National Forest Fire Engine 731 and crew (temporarily assigned to Lincoln National Forest) at Smokey Bear Vista Point in June 1990. Capitan Gap is the pass located in the distance between the engine and the sign. Public Domain